91 ways to save on almost anything

Lower your student loan rate: If you haven't yet consolidated your student loans, you can shave between 1 and 3 percentage points off your interest rate -- saving hundreds of dollars -- by going with a lender that offers a discount when you make on-time payments or automatic payments from your bank account.

(You can compare deals through SimpleTuition.com.)

Cut a deal on student debt: If you're in over your head, ask your lender if you qualify for a graduated payment schedule (your payments start out small and increase as, presumably, your income increases). Or ask for an extended payment period, such as 15 or 20 years.

(See "How to pay off student loans" and "Your 5-minute guide to college costs" for more tips.)

Use free ATMs: A buck or two here and there may not seem like a big deal. But if you're frequenting ATMs outside your bank's network, the surcharges can add up quickly. Get money from an ATM that belongs to a surcharge-free network.

Allpoint has about 200 participating institutions and 32,000 ATMs. Money Pass has 600 members and 8,000 ATMs.

Give your credit a checkup: Making sure your credit is in tip-top shape can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars in the long run.

You're entitled by law to one free credit report once a year from each of the three main credit bureaus. Go to AnnualCreditReport.com to see what lenders can see about your credit history.

(For more, read "Your 5-minute guide to credit scores.")

Get checking with bling: No-interest checking is so old fashioned. Instead, give your money more opportunity to shine with an interest-bearing online checking account through such reputable companies as Everbank, Charles Schwab, E-Trade and ING Direct. They currently pay between 2.25% and 3.25%.

Keep tabs on your balance: At $20 to $30 a pop, overdraft fees and bounced checks can put a damper on your savings efforts. So it literally pays to keep tabs on your spending.

If you use a debit card for convenience over your checkbook, jot down all your debit transactions on your checkbook register to make sure you know how much money is in your bank account at all times.

Evaluate your spending: Looking for help keeping tabs on your budget? Track your spending patterns through the free service at Wesabe.com. You enter your accounts to organize your spending into different categories on one convenient site.

Wesabe will also help you pinpoint areas where you could improve and lets you get feedback from other Wesabe users, all while protecting your passwords, identity and other sensitive information.

Save money on entertainment

Wait until the last minute: When it gets down to a couple hours before the performance, the theater may start selling "rush" tickets at a fraction of the price. It would rather sell the seats at a bargain than let them go empty. Consolidated discount ticket booths are popping up in cities nationwide. Or call your favorite hometown theater to see if it offers price cuts directly to the public right before showtime.

Of course, there's a good chance a show will sell out. So it pays to keep your plans flexible.

Check out the library: Dust off your library card and enjoy DVDs and books for free. If you'd normally rent a movie a week and buy a book a month, you can cut costs by $30.

Plus, check out library-sponsored events, such as book readings and clubs, film screenings and lectures.

Work or volunteer: Here's a great way for cash-strapped teenagers and college students to have some fun and make a buck at the same time. Check out part-time jobs at a sports venue, concert hall or theater. You may have to empty a trash can now and then or tear tickets, but you might be able to catch a good portion of the show.

Or volunteer. In exchange for passing out playbills at the door, for example, you may be able to sit in on the performance when your work is done.

Watch for discount days: Many theaters, museums, galleries, zoos and parks offer special discount days, such as standing room only or pay-what-you-can nights. Some even offer free admission on certain days of the month.

For performances, ask about free or drastically discounted admission to dress rehearsals.

Team up for baby-sitting: As any parent knows, a good chunk of any entertainment budget can be eaten up just paying the baby sitter. Join forces with a relative, neighbor or friend and trade off watching each other's kids, instead. For example, you watch their kids one Saturday evening and they watch yours the following weekend.

If you spent $10 to $20 a week on a baby sitter, you could save $520 to $1,040 per year with your co-op.

Catch a matinee: Matinees aren't just for senior citizens or little kids. You can often get cheap tickets to movies, theater productions and other shows if you attend in the early afternoon instead of the prime evening time slot.

(Read "9 ways to save on movie tickets.")

Daytime is also a good time to try out a hot new restaurant. You can get lunch-menu prices for dinner-quality entrees.

Go with a group: When it comes to finding cheap entertainment, more really is merrier. Buy tickets in bulk to get a 10% (or more) discount to many exhibitions and events. Team up with friends, co-workers or relatives to get the lower rate.

Get moving: Forget the $40-a-month gym membership that'll cost you almost $500 a year. Instead, check out community centers in your area. Some may be free or charge a minimal fee, such as $100 a year.

Or buy a good pair of running shoes, or dust off that bike and work out the old-fashioned way.

Give the secret handshake: As with many things in life, getting a deal on entertainment can come down to whom you know.

You could score discount tickets to amusement parks, sports arenas and other events through clubs and associations you belong to, such as AAA, AARP, a credit union, alumni or professional association or even your job. Flash your membership card; save money.

And if you're a student, always ask about student discounts with your ID.

Go back to college: College campuses are a trove of quality entertainment options, from student musical performances, film festivals, art exhibits, theater productions, dance recitals, sporting events and more.

The best part: Many are free or incredibly inexpensive to attend.

Fire your video store: Spending $5 for a movie at the corner video store can add up quickly. And mail-order subscription services can be costly, too, unless you watch a lot of movies every month to make the expense worth it. Instead, scope out DVD kiosks in your neighborhood.

For example, for $1 per night, you can rent a DVD from Redbox kiosks. They carry new releases and are located nationwide in thousands of convenient spots, such as fast-food restaurants and grocery stores. If you're a once-a-week renter, you could shave your movie costs from $20 a month to a mere $4.

Head outdoors: Mother Nature offers plenty of free and cheap entertainment. Go hiking, picnicking, bird watching, fishing, kayaking or camping. You could even host a campout and hot dog roast in your backyard.

The sky's the limit.

Published July 8, 2008

(Save on investing; food; transportation; travel; utilities; phone service, Internet and TV; credit, debt and banking; entertainment.)

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